Have you ever had that feeling when you pick up a book that you are not sure whether you will like it or not, but it sounds interesting and so you decide to go for it anyway and hope that it is good? That was how I felt when I read the release info on the novel from new author, Julia Dahl. It sounded interesting plus it was sure to have some suspense and intrigue which makes for a great read, but I wasn’t sure if it would keep my interest. However, I was glad that I decided to check out this new release that was sent to me for review.
Invisible City by Julia Dahl
Audio CD
Publisher: Macmillan Audio; Unabridged edition
Publish Date: May 6, 2014
ISBN-13: 978-1427239549
Synopsis: Just months after Rebekah Roberts was born, her mother, an Hasidic Jew from Brooklyn, abandoned her Christian boyfriend and newborn baby to return to her religion. Neither Rebekah nor her father have heard from her since. Now a recent college graduate, Rebekah has moved to New York City to follow her dream of becoming a big-city reporter. But she’s also drawn to the idea of being closer to her mother, who might still be living in the Hasidic community in Brooklyn.
Then Rebekah is called to cover the story of a murdered Hasidic woman. Rebekah’s shocked to learn that, because of the NYPD’s habit of kowtowing to the powerful ultra-Orthodox community, not only will the woman be buried without an autopsy, her killer may get away with murder. Rebekah can’t let the story end there. But getting to the truth won’t be easy—even as she immerses herself in the cloistered world where her mother grew up, it’s clear that she’s not welcome, and everyone she meets has a secret to keep from an outsider.
In her riveting debut Invisible City, journalist Julia Dahl introduces a compelling new character in search of the truth about a murder and an understanding of her own heritage.
My Thoughts: There are many communities where outsiders are not welcome because they do not understand the culture and traditions. It is hard for someone without intimate knowledge of these things to truly understand the inner workings of a tight knit group and community. That is what the main character was up against in this interesting storyline.
Like most people, not understanding a culture like the Hasidic Orthodox, can lead to many questions and interest from outsiders. This book opens the door into the inner workings of the Ultra Othrodox Hasidic’s in a way like no other author I have ever read. The story is unique, drawing from the interesting culture the author herself has – half Christian and half Jewish. The main character, Rebekah, is half Jewish and struggles to align herself with her faith and culture when she has to cover a story that hits close to home. But her name opens doors and mouths that she needs for her job, so play the part, she must.
The audio book is read by a talented reader, Andi Arndt, who offers voices to match the personalities of those involved in the story. It flows well and is full of twists and turns that keeps you guessing “who dun it” until the very end. I was somewhat surprised with the ending and I enjoy that!
This book is a refreshing change from the ordinary and it is full of interesting tid-bits about the hidden culture of the Hasidic Orthodox and their community. It is all realistic and true in today’s society? Only the author and those in the Hasidic culture really know, but it makes for a great departure plus an interesting mystery and that is what I enjoy the most.
Disclaimer: Chris has personally reviewed the product listed above. She has not received any monetary compensation for her review but did receive a free product to try out so she could evaluate and use it for her review. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ.
This sounds like an interesting story that will teach me about the Hasidic Orthodox community as well as entertaining me with an interesting mystery. It is always important that the reader does a good job and it seems that Andi Arndt exceeded your expectations.